Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) - USA Jobs : Job Details

The Addiction Therapist works with a multi-disciplinary recovery team to provide guidance and support to Veterans in Recovery, coordinating their care to include substance abuse services, mental health services, vocational services, assistance with homeless outreach services, and collaboration with other disciplines/treatment modalities to ensure that the Veterans' recovery plan is self-directed and patient centered.

• Interviews the Patient: Conducts assessments using questionnaires or other measurement devices, or observes the Veteran to assess emotional, functional and other related levels of individual functioning. Independently conducts initial screening of patients. Gathers social, drug, family and military history and reasons for referral. Prepares written psychosocial assessments and individual recovery plans based on knowledge of Veteran's background, medical history, and the Veteran's individual report for use with members of the treatment team, or for use with the Veteran to collaborate in the development of the Veteran's plan for recovery.
• Coordinates Recovery Programming for Eligible Veterans: Assists in determining appropriate recovery and rehabilitation planning with individual Veterans, along with other clinical members of the inner-disciplinary review team. Recommends and assists the Veteran in setting standards of achievement and goals for evaluation of progress. Serves as a member of the inner-disciplinary recovery planning treatment team and works with the Veteran and other professionals to formulate recovery and follow-up plans for each patient.
• Provides Counseling and Recovery-based Services: Provides individual and group counseling, and makes appropriate referral to other professional resources, interconnected to the DRRTP as necessary to ensure continuation of care in recovery programming. Conducts therapeutic short-term, in-depth counseling in accordance with specific guidelines, occasionally conducts crisis intervention or other emergency interventions as appropriate. Conducts group, family and individual therapeutic counseling sessions to ensure the Veteran receives continuing support for the personal plan of recovery. Observes patient behaviors and responses to varying situations, and shares with the Veteran, other discipline professionals, and the recovery planning team in reviewing and modifying recovery and continuity of care plans. Contributes to team decisions concerning the necessary guidelines and supports required for the therapeutic progress of both individual Veterans and the community in general and recommends degrees of support and community program placements.
• Evaluates Progress; Adjusts Treatment as Necessary: Maintains appropriate Veteran records, charting information necessary to ensure that an accurate portrayal of the Veteran's activities, condition, and progress is documented in the Veteran's chart. Evaluates patient's progress on a bi-weekly (or more often) basis to assess the current condition and progress while participating in the personal plan for recovery. Contributes to treatment team decisions concerning adjustments to treatment, including privileges, therapeutic leaves of absence, readiness for job placement readiness for education and training programs, and readiness for discharge.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday

Telework: Not Available

Functional Statement #:

Requirements Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. AT/LMAT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education. Hold a bachelor's degree in drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university. In some jurisdictions, individuals may not be required to hold a bachelor's degree to be licensed in Alcohol and Drug Treatment. VHA will not waive education requirements even if the candidate has a license that does not require a bachelor's degree.

Licensure Requirements:

• Individuals appointed or reassigned to an AT position in the GS-0101 series must: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia to practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment; AND Complete one of the following: i International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification; or National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07).
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders as interrelated to SUDs. Ability to complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning. Ability to develop and maintain effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans and their families.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit . The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: .

Additional Information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.